Chapter 1: The Way Back
* Elias Kane, a police detective in the 21st century, investigates a murder in a society where advanced technology has eradicated violence.
* Kane suspects the victim's psychiatrist, Dr. Quincy Madison, of using a device called a "Pyre" to induce hallucinations and guilt in the victim, leading to suicide.
Example: Kane discovers a strange symbol on the victim's wrist, indicating that they were subjected to the Pyre's influence.
Chapter 2: The Corpse
* Kane interrogates Madison, who denies involvement in the murder.
* Kane searches Madison's clinic and finds a Pyre hidden in a secret compartment.
* Madison reveals that he has been using the Pyre to rehabilitate violent criminals, but denies using it for murder.
Example: Kane analyzes Madison's blood and finds traces of a chemical used in the Pyre, confirming his suspicions.
Chapter 3: The Murder
* Kane suspects that Madison is hiding something crucial and continues to investigate.
* He discovers that the victim was part of a secret resistance group opposed to the surveillance society.
* Madison admits to accidentally killing the victim while trying to protect the group's secret.
Example: Kane finds a hidden message in the victim's apartment, revealing the existence of the resistance group.
Chapter 4: The Demolished Man
* Kane confronts Madison with his findings, accusing him of the murder.
* Madison explains that his intention was to prevent the victim from revealing the group's secret, which would have threatened the stability of the society.
* The tribunal sentences Madison to "demolishment," a process that erases his memory and identity.
Example: Madison undergoes the procedure, leaving behind a blank slate of a person.
Chapter 5: The New Man
* Kane struggles with the aftermath of Madison's punishment, questioning the ethics of using technology to control and manipulate individuals.
* He reflects on the importance of individual freedom and the potential dangers of a society that suppresses dissent.
Example: Kane realizes that the use of the Pyre has not truly eradicated violence, but has merely shifted it to a more insidious and hidden form.
